Who says you have to settle for bland or pre-flavored food when away from your kitchen? I can see great application for these among hikers and campers who don’t want to compromise good eats at the expense of bulk and weight.

When we go camping in the summer, we like to cook and eat well. For us, this means being sure that we have all of the spices and seasonings that we would be using if we were at home. Space is always an issue though, so we try to use compact and easily packable containers for everything. It occurred … Read more

I’m a bit torn on this one. On one hand I’m always up for some creative DIY and concrete is a surprisingly unappreciated material. On the other hand, most of the types I’ve worked with are subject to grit and crumbling under this sort of wear and tear. I’d be a little wary of the resulting material contaminating my herbs, spices and grains.

I do not have that seemingly instinctive trait some people have for combining the right spices with other spices or even particular foods. Sure, I know that EVERYTHING tastes better with garlic, but it mostly ends right about there.

[Photograph: Max Falkowitz]

If you walk down the spice aisle of your local grocery store, you’ll find as many spice blends as actual spices. Some of them are painfully, eye-rollingly cheesy (“New Orleans-style flavor? Seriously?). Others, like five spice powder and vadouvan, are more worth your while.

I’m a big fan of spice blends when they’re made with care and quality … Read more